1998 Ford Escort

FIREMAN25

MEMBER
1998 FORD ESCORT

Engine Mechanical problem
1998 Ford Escort 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

I HAVE A 98 FORD ESCORT ZX2 AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE IDLEING. IT'S A ROUGH IDLE AND I WATCH THE RPM NEEDLE AS IT IDLES AND IT MOVES UP AND DOWN. WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR RUNS FINE BUT SOMETIMES WHEN I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE RPM NEEDLE WILL JUMP AND THE CAR WILL CUT OFF. ANY IDEA WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THIS?

2 Replies

AZRAELEVANGELINE

MEMBER
3 POSTS

We had the exact same problem with our 1998 ZX2. The model seems to have problems with the fuel line and fuel fillters after about 10 years and need to be replaced. We were told when we bought it that it could be a common problem with them - sure enough - a few months later the same thing your discribing happened. If you let it go, it will just get worse slowly. Get someone to look into having your fuel filter changed and hopefully it should fix the issue. Good Luck!

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Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 AT 8:20 PM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

You may have a vacuum leak, get a can of spray gumout, spray the vac lines and maniflod area, when the idle changes, youve found the leak! You want the engine running and spray on the outside but do direct the stream onto the hoses, if it is a vacuum leak, the engine idle will change speed, then you have detected a leak, repair the vacuum leak and see how it runs! The fuel filter is a possibilty, also the idle air control, it's bolted to the throttlebody. You can try cleaning it with a Ford approved solvent, but this does not usually work unless there is heave carbon build up.

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Friday, May 23rd, 2008 AT 1:06 PM